Xbox ends development of Copilot for console

Ever since taking over Xbox a couple of months ago, new CEO, Asha Sharma, has been on a mission to win back ‘core' fans. So far, we've seen Game Pass prices drop and a promising effort to rebrand Xbox ahead of the next-gen console launch. Now, Sharma is ending development for Copilot on Xbox.

Over the past few months, Microsoft has done a rather drastic 180 on its AI ambitions. For a time, the company was trying to force Copilot-driven AI features into everything, from the majority of native Windows apps to Xbox consoles.

When Sharma was announced as the new CEO of Xbox, fans were initially uneasy due to her prior experience working in Microsoft's AI division. However, she said at the time that she had no interest in forcing AI use. Now, she is backing that up by ending development on Copilot for console.

Amid the announcement of several executive-level promotions, Sharma said in a social post today: “You’ll see us begin to retire features that don’t align with where we’re headed. We will begin winding down Copilot on mobile and will stop development of Copilot on console.”

At a time, Microsoft wanted to reenvision Copilot as an interactive guide for gamers but many fans were uninterested in seeing Copilot on console. On top of that, many Windows users had grown frustrated at the amount of forced Copilot features now in a number of apps, causing Microsoft to reverse course and begin an effort to de-bloat Windows.

KitGuru Says: Ultimately, in order for Xbox to truly turn things around it needs hit games. Hopefully upcoming titles like Fable, Forza Horizon 6 and Gears E-Day all hit the mark.

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